Hart Trophy Watch: Most valuable brothers

Daniel and Henrik Sedin have probably never heard of Max and Doug Bentley, but the twin Vancouver Canucks are on the verge of doing the Hall of Fame duo one better this season.

Never in the history of the NHL have brothers won the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. The Bentley’s came excruciatingly close, though, with Max winning the Hart in 1946, three years after older brother Doug finished as runner-up to Bill Cowley.

If Daniel should win the scoring championship this season, he and Henrik would join the Bentleys as scoring champions bros; Doug won the title in 1943 and Max in 1946 and ’47.

Daniel Sedin is getting a good run from Tim Thomas, but we’re a little concerned that Thomas has played only 45 games this season, which would put him on pace to play just 58 games. Of the five goaltenders who have won the Hart Trophy in NHL history, the only one who has played fewer games than that is Roy Worters, who took the Hart in 1929. He played 38 games, but each team played only 44 that season.

Given the Boston Bruins seem intent on resting Thomas down the stretch and have a very capable No. 2 man in Tuukka Rask, the situation might keep Thomas from having enough work to win the Hart.

GAME OF THE MONTH: In a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars, Daniel Sedin scored two goals and added an assist. He opened the scoring and added what was eventually the game-winner in just 17:49 of ice time.

RISING: Since the all-star break the New Jersey Devils have gone 12-1-1, despite scoring just 33 goals in those 14 games. Ilya Kovalchuk had eight goals and 16 points in those games, meaning he was in on just less than half of the Devils goals during their scorching streak.

FALLING: Through no fault of their own, Sidney Crosby and Jonas Hiller are tumbling down the MVP race due to their injuries. Crosby has a concussion and Hiller has vertigo and neither looks close to returning to the lineup.

The Canucks seem to have put it into cruise control and haven’t exactly been a juggernaut since the all-star break, but Sedin leads the league in scoring and is tied for fifth in plus-minus among forwards in the NHL.

Thomas is poised to post the best save percentage since the league began keeping track of the statistic and could finish with an even better goals-against average than the 1.97 his battery mate Tuukka Rask did last season.

Don’t laugh. If the New Jersey Devils somehow find a way to rise from the dead and make the playoffs, which is still a long shot, the $100 million man would have to receive some consideration for the Hart.

‘Captain Serious’ has led the Chicago Blackhawks resurgence both on and off the ice with some fine offensive play and inspiring words for his teammates. No player has been as hot since the all-star break as Toews, who has eight goals and 23 points in 14 games.

His 25 goals are waaaay off his normal output, but Ovechkin is coming on for the surging Capitals and his spectacular overtime-winner against the New York Islanders Tuesday night was a clear sign he still has it.

Thursday’s shutout against the Panthers was Price’s seventh of the season, putting him one of Henrik Lundqvist’s pace. He’s among the leader in wins, GAA and SP, keeping the Habs within striking distance of playoff home-ice advantage.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Look ma, no Red Wings. Detroit might be one of the best teams in the league, but their contributions have been far more a triumph of the collective rather than the individual. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk have both come on, but have too much ground to gain to seriously be considered MVP material.

DROPPED OUT: Crosby, Zetterberg, Hiller, Ryan Kesler.

THN PUCK PANEL - DANIEL SEDIN AT HEAD OF THE CLASS

PRODUCER: Ted Cooper

THN.com's Hart Trophy Watch will appear monthly throughout the season and don't miss out as we'll also track the Vezina, Norris and Jack Adams.

Ken Campbell, author of the book Habs Heroes, is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog will appear every Monday throughout the season.

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